3. Orbital phase

The orbital phase precedes atmospheric re-entry. The limit of the atmosphere is set at a conventional altitude of 100 km, below which aerodynamic effects become noticeable. Position and velocity on atmospheric entry determine the loads experienced during the atmospheric phase and the landing zone accessible. This section presents the calculation of the optimal deorbit maneuver and ballistic range. The calculations are performed in the Galilean reference frame RA (§ 2.1.1 ...